Holdback.



No. 636,188. Patented not. 3|, |899. M. n. scHALLEn.

HOLDBACK.

(Appnuation med Jiuy 2s, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES MICHAEL D. SOHALLER, OF LOWELL, NEW YORK.

HOLDBACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,188, dated October31, 1899.

Application filed J'uly 28, 1899. Serial No. 725,420. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Beit known that I, MICHAEL 1).'ScHALLER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Lowell, in the county ofOneida and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Holdback,of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to holdbacks, and has for its object to provide asimple and improved device which is applicable to either the upper orlower sides of the thills and has means for conveniently connecting theloops of the holdback-straps therewith and permitting of the latterbeing readily detached without manually operating the device.-

To these ends the present invention consists in the combination andarrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shownin the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in theappended claims, it being understood that changes in the form,proportion, size, and the minor details of construction may be madewithin the scope of the appended claims without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a thillhaving the present holdback fitted thereto. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan viewof the device. Fig. 3 is avertical transverse sectional view' taken onthe line w grof Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken onthe line y y of Fig. 3 and showing a different arrangement of spring.Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the yielding pin -or linger.

The same numerals of reference are used to indicate like andcorresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a flatattaching-plate having countersunk openings 2 for the reception ofsuitable fastenings, whereby the device may be fitted to the thills.Pendent from the outer edge of the attaching-plate isa pair of spacedlugs or shoulders 3 and 4, respectively, and also pendent from theopposite edge of the plate is a pair of bowed guard-fin gers 5, whichare alined transversely with the respective shoulders 3 and 4. As bestshown in Figs. 2 and 4, the shoulder 3 is beveled or inclined,

as at 6, said incline extending from the inner end of theshoulderoutwardly and terminating intermediate of the ends thereof.

Extending transversely of the attachingplate and having one end pivotedbetween the adjacent inner ends of the shoulders 3 and 4 is a pin orfinger 7. The pivoted end of this finger is enlarged into substantiallycircular form in cross-section, as shown at 8, and is provided with asmooth central bore or opening 9. Passing through this opening and alsothrough the attaching-plate is a pivotbolt 10, having its head fittingagainst the lower side of the enlarged end of the finger and providedatits upper end with a nut 11, which engages against the upper side of theattaching-plate and detachably holds the pivoted finger to the plate.Projecting at opposite sides of the enlarged end of the pivotal fingerare two lugs or stop-shoulders 12 and 13, respectively, which areadapted to engage the respective pendent shoulders 3 and 4, as bestshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The lug 13 is provided with an outerbeveled or inclined face, which engages against the inner beveledportion of the shoulder 3, while the opposite lug 12 engagesv againstthe outer side 0f the opposite shoulder '4, thereby limiting themovement of the finger. By reference to Fig. 5 it will be seen that theupper A side of the enlarged portion of the pivotal finger is providedwith a socket or recess 14l which surrounds the central opening 9 and isprovided with a pair of branch grooves 15 and 16, respectively, whichcommunicate with the socket or recess. The groove 15 is preferablyradial with respect to the socket and extends longitudinally in theupper face of the lug 13, while the other groove 16 opens outwardthrough one side of the enlarged portion 8 and extends longitudinally ofthe piv otal finger. Mounted within the socket and loosely embracing thepivot-bolt 10 is a coiled spring 17, having one arm 1S fitted in thegroove 16-and the opposite arm 19 projecting laterally outward acrossthe top of the enlarged portion 8 and abutting against a' stopshoulder20. As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the arm 19 has its extremity 21 bentat substantially right angles to the arm and fitted in an opening 22,formed in the attachingplate l. In Fig. 4 there has been illustrated IOOanother arrangement of spring which has its -outwardly-projeeting arm 19bearing against Ithe inner face of the pendent shoulder 4. The purposeof providing two grooves 15 and 16 is to permit of the arm 18 beingfitted in either groove, so as to vary the tension of the spring.

In the operation of the device the attaching-plate is fitted to theunderside of a thill 23, as best shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, withthe shoulders 3 and 4 and the guards 5 pendent from the thills. Thepivotal finger 7 projects laterally across the face of theattaching-plate and is spaced a suitable distance below the latter andhas its free end terminating short of the guards 5, and is, furthermore,located between the latter. By this arrangement the loop 2i of aholdback-strap may be conveniently passed between said guards andslipped upon the pivotal finger. In thus engaging the loop with thefinger it is disposed in vertical relation, so as to pass between theguards, after which the loop assumes a horizontal position longitudinalwith and adjacent to the under side of the thill. It will be understoodthat the pivotal finger is arranged to move in a forward direction; butit is held against rearward movement by the lugs 12 and 13 engaging withthe respective shoulders 3 and et. Thus the finger is fixed againstmovement caused by the tension of the holdback-strap, but is free toswing forward, so as to automatically disengage the holdbaek therefrom,wherebyit is not necessary to manually operate the finger in unhitchingthe horse. The purpose of the coiled spring is to hold the tingeragainst aecidental movement and at the same time to permit of the fingerbeing operated when so desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. A holdback,comprising an attachingplate, having spaced shoulders provided at oneedge thereof, and opposite spaced guards located at the opposite edge ofthe plate, and a transversely-disposed pivotal fin ger, having itspivoted end located between the`spaced shoulders, and provided withoppesitely-extending lugs engaging with the respective shoulders,substantially as shown and described.

2. A holdhack, comprising an attachingplate, having spaced shouldersprovided at one edge thereof, opposite spaced guards provided upon theopposite edge of the plate, and a transversely-disposed pivotal finger,having its pivoted end located between the spaced shoulders, its freeend terminating short of the guards and aliued therebetween, and0pposite lugs engaging opposite sides of the respective spacedshoulders, substantially as shown and described.

3. A holdback, comprising an attachingplate, opposite spaced shouldersprovided at one edge of the plate, a transversely-disposed pivotalfinger, having one end pivoted between the shoulders and provided withopposite lugs engaging the respective shoulders, one face of the pivotalend of the finger being provided with a socket, having a groovecommunicating therewith, and a coiled spring located within the socket,and having one end fitted in the groove, and the opposite end extendingtransversely of the finger and engaging the attaching-plate,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL D. SCHALLER.

IVitnesses:

G. M. FLOURE, H. THOMPSON.

